Far-right demonstrators in Boston appeared to be greatly outnumbered by their opponents – perhaps as much as ten to one – as the city braced for two competing rallies. The Mayor of Boston, Marty Walsh, issued an appeal to the many thousands of people taking part in the two events to be peaceful and show respect. The events were taking place a week after clashes at a white supremacist protest in Charlottesville, Virginia, that resulted in more than 20 people being injured and one young woman, Heather Heyer, being killed.